What Is Matariki? Community Evening Sessions

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NGĀ ART warmly invites our community to join us for “What Is Matariki?” Community Evening Sessions being held this April.

These evenings are offered as a koha to our community. An opportunity to slow down, be present, and deepen our understanding of Matariki in a way that is gentle, inclusive, and grounded in whanaungatanga. Whether you are new to learning about Matariki or already hold this knowledge close, this is a personal invitation to come as you are.

Hosted by Koro Witehira alongside the NGĀ ART team, the sessions are run in a wānanga‑style format that creates a safe and supportive space for listening, learning, and open kōrero. There is no “right” level of knowledge – curiosity, respect, and presence are all that are needed.

These sessions are:

  • Open to everyone
  • Family‑friendly and whānau‑focused
  • Beginner‑friendly
  • A safe space for questions and shared kōrero

Creative Invitation: Matariki ki Au

Participants will also be gently invited to feel inspired to create something for our upcoming exhibition Matariki ki Au. This kaupapa celebrates freedom of expression, personal storytelling, and identity, encouraging exploration through textiles and fibre of whakapapa, remembrance, renewal, and the natural world. Individual works, along with collaborative community pieces, will be curated into a public exhibition that reflects the many voices and stories of Ngāruawāhia. If you plan to attend classes in term two, we would love for you to attend these sessions as a way to add depth to your creations this term.

There is no pressure to create – only an open invitation to feel inspired if and when it feels right for you.

Kai and Connection

Please bring something small to share for a light supper, so we can close the evening together over kai.

RSVP Now!

Choose one of the two sessions to attend:

What Is Matariki | Community Info Session
Thursday 16 April 2026, 6.00–7.30pm

What Is Matariki | Community Info Session
Monday 20 April 2026, 6.00–7.30pm

Location: NGĀ ART – 18 Herschel Street, Ngāruawāhia
Cost: Free to attend – just turn up

Bring your whānau. Come listen and learn. Be part of the kōrero.

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